Electrical switch



Jan. 17, 1928.

l A. G. STEINMAYER ELECTRICAL SWITCH Filed July 31, 1924 Patented Jan. 17, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALWIN G. STEINEAYEB, F .MILWAUKEE WISOONSIN, ASSIGNOB T0 LINE`MATEBILL 00mm, 0l' SOUTH MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A. GOBPORATION 0F WISOONBIN.

ELECTRICAL BWITGH.

Application illed July 31, 18M. Serial lo. 789,817.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in electrical switches and refers more particularly to a cut-out switch having as one of its objects the provision of means for insuring the quick breaking of a current to minimize arcing at the contacts.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of an electrical switch of the character described including an a switch blade or member adapted to remain in circuit closing position until after the other blades forming a master switch have been moved to circuit o enin position a predetermined degree, w en t e auxiliary switch is quickl moved to open position to produce a quick reak of the circuit.

My invention contemplates as another object the provision of an electrical switch having an auxiliaryI switch for producing a uick break in t e circuit which carries its are of the current when the switch is closed.

It is a further object of this invention to provide means operable upon the failure of the auxiliary switch to open upon predetermined movement of the master switch to force the auxiliary to circuit breaking position, thus providing a factor of safety.

This invention has as a still further object the provision of an electrical switch of the character described which is of simple construction and which ma be used in any place or in connection wit an current.

With the above and other o jects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, -my invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined b the a pended claims, it being understoo that su changes in the precise embodiment of the hereindisclosed invention ma be made as come within the scope of the c aims.

In,r the accompanying drawing, I have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of my invention constructed according to the best mode I have so far devised for the practical ap lication of the principles thereof, and in w ich:

Figure 1 is a front view of an electrical cutout switch ,embodying my invention and illustrating oiie of its uses;

Figure 2 is a side view of the switch, and

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, parts thereof being broken away and iii section, illustrating the outer or master switch blades in open position prior to the openin movement of e inner or auxilia switchgblade. ry Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawing, in which like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, the numeral 5 designates a housin .or box havin its open side normall closed y a hinged oor 6. The rear wall 7 of the housing carries suitable means (not shown) for facilitating its mounting to a cross-arm or other support, and the side walls have two lead-m openings therein in which insulators 8 and 9 are secured. Tlie line 10, in the circuit of which the switch is included, has its end 1l passed into the housing through the insulator 8 and electrically connected with a stationary contact 12 to be later described, by a terminal 13, and the other end 14 of the line enters the housing through the insulator 9 and is connected with a stationary contact 16 similar to contact 12, by a terminal 16.

The stationary contacts 12 and 15 are preferably identical in construction and are mounted in the housing by suitable` porcelain or insulating bases'l? and 18, resplectively, illustrated in the drawing as of t e petti coat type. The stationary contacts are of the clip type and each comprise two outer spring clips 19 between which are mounted a pair of aced inner ring cli s 20 between whic switch bla es 21, and 23 are frictionally e geable.

The switch bla es are spaced a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the chps 20, the outer blades 21 and 23 bein connected to form a main or master swi independently of the inner blade which forms an auxiliary or quick-break switch. The blades 21 and 23 are connected at their upper endlsbyapullring24by-f 'ngs26 passed therethrough and a lug 25 formed on the pull and positioned 'between the outer ends o the b ades to properly space the same. `Tli'e lower ends of the outer blades are pivotall secured to and spaced by a standard 27, t e upper end of which is 'tic ned between and secured to the blades a pin 2g. In this manner the outer b ades forming the main switch are pivotallOl ly mounted for movement to and from electrical enga ement with the stationary contacts 12 an 15.

The center blade 22 forming the auxiliary switch is normally ositioned in thel space between the outer b ades and has its lower end ivotally secured thereto by a pivot pin 29, t e center blade being maintained in proper position by spacing washers mounted on the pivot pin between the blades. The upper end of the center blade is spaced by a guide clip 31 of substantially U-shape and secured to the outer blades, as at 32, and having its ends 33 slightly liared, for the urpose hereinafter described.

T e center blade or auxiliary switch is normally retained in its position between the outer blades, to, with the outer blades, form a movable switch contact, by a spring 34 the medial portions of which are coiled about extensions 35 on the pivot pin 28 with its ends 36 bearing a ainst the opposite sides of the movable swit contact outwardly of the pivot pin 29. As a result, movement of the center blade from between the outer blades is yieldably resisted by the spring. Closing movement of the outer blades causes the closed end of the guide 31 to carry the center blade with them to engagement with the stationary contacts.

In operation, assuming the parts to be in their positions illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the end 37 of a pull stick 38 is inserted in the a erture of the eye 24 and a ull exerted w en it is desired to break t e continuity of the circuit. As the blades 21 and 23 disengage the stationary contacts, the friction etween the clips 20 and the center blade retains the latter in circuit making sition until the outer blades reach a preetermined position and have stored suicient energy in spring 34 to disengage the auxiliary and stationary contacts. At this point the center blade is moved with a quick, snappy action, minimizing arching incidental to the breaking of the circuit, the center blade being guided between the outer blades by the Haring ends 83 of the guide.

In the event spring 34 has become broken or too weak to move the center blade against the resistance oEered by its frictional engagement with the stationary contacts, continued movement of the outer blades be ond a point where the center blade should nction, the squared end 39 of the center blade, which extends below the pivot pin 29 a short distance, rides over the slightly curved corner 40 of the outer end of the standard 27, which acts as a cam. This cam action forces the center blade out of engagement with the stationary contacts, roviding a factor of safet against the reakage or weakening of t e sprin 34.

From the foregoing escription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings it will lbe readily obvious to those skilled in the art to which an invention of this character ap ertains that I provide an improved electrica switch having an auxiliary switch for obtaining the quick breaking of the circuit and also carrying its share of the current and that the switch may be employed in other places than with a box or housing of the ty illustrated.

What claim as my invention is:

1. In an appliance of the character described, a support, a stationary contact mounted on the support, a standard fixed to the support and spaced from the stationary contact, a movab e contact electrically engageable with the fixed contact and includmg a plurality of switch blades, means connecting the outer blades of the movable contact at their outer ends the inner ends-of the outer blades being disposed on o posits sides of the standard, means pivot y connecting the outer blades with the standard, and means ivotally connectin the inner blade with t e outer blades a Jaeent their point of pivotal connection with the standard, the inner end'of the inner blade'being approximately square and terminating adjacent the standard whereby o ening movement of the movable contact 'senga the outer blades and leaves the inner b ade in engagement with the stationary contact until one corner of the inner end thereof engages the standard when said inner blade moves in unison with the outer blades.

\ 2. In an appliance of the character de scribed, a support, a stationary contact mounted on the support, a standard fixed to the support and spaced from the stationary contact, and a movable contact adapted to be en aged with the stationary contact and inclu ing a plurality of switch blades, the inner blades terminating short of the ends of the outer blades, means connecting the outer blades of the movable contact at their outer ends, the outer ends of the blades bein dis osed on the op osite sides of the stan arci? means pivota ly connecting the outer blades with the standard, means pivotall Yconnecting the inner end of the inner bla e with the outer blades adjacent their oint of pivotal connection with the standar and a sprin member medially coiled about the ivot o the outer blades and having its ends nt over the opposite edges thereof to normally yieldably secure the inner blade in its position concealed between the outer blades and a substantially U-shaped clip member secured over the vouter blades adJacent the outer free ends thereof and extended therebelow with its ends iiared to form a guide for. the inner blade in its movement between the outer blade, the closed end of said clip preventing pivotal movement of the inner lade outwardly beyond the outer blades.

3. An appliance of the character described,

a. stationary contact including a pair of sring clips hav' a pair of spacers mounte therein, a mova le contact inclu three longitudinally spaced blades adap to be electrically connected with thevstationary contact w1th the accts between the blades, the outer lades of the movable contact being pivotally mounted to a. support, means pivotall mounting the center blade and the movab e contact to the outer blades whereby independent movement thereof is permitted, und a substantiall U-shaped clip secured between the outer lades adjacent their outer ends and ha its ends ared to provide a guide for the inner blade as it moves into its normal position between the outer blades, said clip providing a spacer for maintainin the center blade in proper longitudin y spaced position between the outer blades.

In testimon whereof I ax m :1; l ture.

VIN G. ST

permitted, and a substantiall U-shaped clip secured between the outer lades adjacent their outer ends and ha its ends ilared to provide a guide for the inner blade as it moves into its normal position between the outer blades, said clip providing a spacer for maintainin the center p blade in proper longitudin y spaced position between the ouer blades. h f I mx n testimon w ereo m ture.

VIN G. STEINKLA. B.

CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTION.

Patent No. l, 656, 399.

Granted January 17, 1928. to

ALWIN G. STEINMAYER.

lt is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3. end of specification, signature of applicant,

for "Alvin C. Steinmayer" read "Alwin G. Steinmayer"; and thatA the said Lette'rs Patent should he read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 20th day of March, A. D. 1928.

M. J. Moore, Acting Commissioner of Patente.

CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTION.

Patent N0. 1,656,399. Granted January 17, 1928, to

ALWIN G. STEI NMAYER.

Il is hereby certifiedA that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3, end of specification, signature of applicant, for "Alvin G. Steinmayer" read "Alwin G. Steinmayer"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 20th day of March, A. D. 1928.

M. J. Moore, Sell. Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

